President Paul Kagame has opened up about the delicate politics shaping the Great Lakes region, offering his perspective on President Donald Trump’s involvement in the Rwanda–DRC peace process, the leadership of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, and the broader regional security landscape.
Speaking to Al Jazeera as negotiations unfolded simultaneously in Washington and Doha, Kagame struck a tone that mixed cautious optimism with hard-headed realism.
Here are ten takeaways from the interview.
1. Kagame praised President Trump’s hands-on approach, noting that no previous U.S. administration had applied this level of attention, pressure, or visibility to the Rwanda–DRC conflict.
2. He said he prefers Trump’s transactional, results-driven style over traditional Western rhetoric on democracy and human rights, which he described as often long on theory but short on tangible improvements for African people.
3. Kagame clarified that it was Tshisekedi, not Rwanda, who initiated both the Qatar and Washington negotiation tracks, countering claims that Rwanda had abandoned African-led processes.
4. He accused Tshisekedi of attempting to manipulate international mediators, believing that the DRC’s size and mineral wealth would give him leverage to secure favorable outcomes for Kinshasa.
5. Kagame warned that the DRC has a recurring pattern of signing agreements and reversing them soon after, calling this a major obstacle to lasting peace.
6. He stressed the importance of addressing root causes, noting that the current negotiation framework is finally integrating political, security, and economic dimensions together.
7. While expressing cautious optimism about the agreements being negotiated, Kagame emphasized that signing is only the first step; implementation will be the true test.
8. He credited Qatar with hosting internal DRC dialogues and said Doha brings valuable experience, resources, and consistency to mediation efforts.
9. Kagame rejected claims that Rwanda’s mineral exports originate from the DRC, insisting that Rwanda has its own high-quality tungsten, tin, tantalum, beryllium, lithium, and gold, citing U.S.-based Trinity Metals as evidence.
10. He criticized some international actors for protecting the FDLR and distorting the region’s history, arguing that blame is often shifted onto Rwanda while deeper sources of instability remain unaddressed.
Taken together, Kagame’s remarks paint the picture of a leader balancing cautious hope with a pragmatic assessment of challenges, welcoming unprecedented international engagement while insisting that lasting peace will require credibility, consistency, and the courage to confront long-ignored structural issues.
Below is the full interview: